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Joint  resolutio 
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HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  Feb.  20,  1865.— Read  first 
and  second  times,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[By  Mr.  Perkins,  f^om  Committee  of  Foreign  Affairs.] 


JOINT  RESOLUTIONS 

Expressing  the  seme  of  Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  late  Peace 

Commission. 


1  Whereas  the   Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  have  ever 

2  been  desirous  of  an  honorable  and  a  permanent  settlement,  by 

3  negotiation,  of  all  matters  of  difference  between  the  people  of 

4  the  Confederate  States  of  America  and  the  governnient  of  the 

5  United  States,  and  to  this  end  provided,  immediately  on  its  as- 

6  sembling  at  Montgomery  in  February  1861,  for  the  sending  of 

7  three  commissioners  to  Washington  to  negotiate  friendly  rela- 

8  tions  on  all  questions  of  disagreement  between  the  two  govern- 

9  ments  on  principles  of  right,  justice,  equity  and  good  faith  :  And 

10  whereas  these  having  been  refused  a  reception.  Congress  again, 

11  on  the  14th  of  June  1864,  adopted  and  published  a  manifesto  to 

12  the  civilized  world,  declaring  its  continued  desire  to  settle  with- 

13  out  further  shedding  of  blood,  upon  honorable  terms,  all  ques- 

14  tions  at  issue  between  the  people  of  the  Confederate  States  and 

15  those  of  the  United  States,  to  which  the  only  response  i-eoeived 

16  from  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  has  been  the  voting  dowi^^ 


2 

17  bv  large  majorities,  all  resolutions  proposing  an  amicable  settle- 

]  S  ment  of  existing  difficulties :    And  whereas  the  President  has 

19  communicated  to  this  House,  that  in  the  same  spirit  of  concilia- 

x!0  tion  and  peace,  he  recently  sent  Vice-Presiclent  Stephens,  Sena- 

21  tor  Hunter  and  Judge  Campbell,  to  hold  conference  with  such 

'22  persons  as  the  government  of  the  United  States  might  designate 

23  to  meet  them  :  And  whereas  those  eminent  citizens,  after  a  full 

24  conference  with  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Seward,  have 

25  reported  that  they  were  informed  explicitly  that  the  authorities 

26  of  the  United  States  would  hold  no  negotiation  with  the  Con- 

27  federate  States,  or  any  of  them  separately  ;  that  no  terms,  except 

28  such  as  a  conqueror  grants  to  the  subjugated,  would  be  extended 

29  to  the  people  of  these  states ;  and  that  the  subversion  of  our 
oO  institutions,  and  a  complete  submission  to  their  rule,  was  the 
:;]  only  condition  of  peace  :  Therefore, 

1  Resolved  by  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  Ame- 

2  rica,  That  while  Congress  regrets  that  no  alternative  is  left  to 

3  the  people  of  the  Confederate  States  but  a  continuance  of  the 

4  war,  or  submission  to  terms  of  pQace  alike  ruinous  and  dishonor- 

5  able,  it  accepts,  in  their  behalf,  the  issue  tendered  them  by  the 

6  authorities  of  the  United  States  government,  and  solemnly  de- 

7  clares  that  it  is  their  unalterable  determination  to  prosecute  the 
S  war  with  the  United  States  until  that  power  shall  desist  from 
9  its  efforts  to  subjugate  them,  and  the  independence  of  the  Con- 

10  federate  States  shall  have  been  established. 


3 

1  Resolved,  That  the  Congress  has  received  with  pride  the  nu- 

2  merous  noble  and  patriotic  resolutions  passed  by  the  array  ;  and 

3  in    the   gallant   and    unconquered   spirit  which   they  breathe, 

4  coming  from  those  who  have  for  years  endured  dangers  and  pri- 
-5  vations,  it  sees  unmistakable  evidence  that  the  enthusiasm  with 
(>  which  they  first  dedicated  their  lives  to  the  defence  of  their 

7  country  is  not  yet  extinct,  but  has  been  confirmed,  by  hardships 

8  and  suffering,  into  a  principle  of  resistance  to  northern   rule, 

9  that  will  hold  in  contempt  all  disgraceful  terms  of  submission  ; 

10  and  for  these  expressions  in  camp,  as  well  as  for  their  noble 

11  acts    in   the  field,  our   soldiers   deserve,  and  will    receive   the 

12  thanks  of  the  country. 

1  Resolved,  That  the  Congress  invites  the  people  of  these  States 

2  to  assemble  in  public  meetings,  and  renew  their  vows  of  devo- 

3  tion  to  the  cause  of  independence;  to  declare  their  determi- 

4  nation  to  maintain  their  liberties ;  to  pledge  themselves  to  do 

5  all  in  their  power  to  fill  the  ranks  of  our  army;  and  to  provide 

6  for  the  support  of  the  families  of  our  soldiers;  and  to  cheer  and 

7  comfort,  by  every  means,  the  gallant  men  who  for  yeara,  through 

8  trials  and  dangers,  have  vindicated  our  rights  on  the  battle  field. 

1  Resolved,  That,  confiding  in  the  justice  of  our  cause,  aided 

2  and  sustained  by  the  God  of  battles ;  in  the  valor  and  endurance 

3  of  our  soldiers,  and  in  the  deep  and  ardent  devotion  of  our 

4  people  to  the  great  principles  of  civil  and  political  liberty,  for 

5  which  we  are  contending,  Congress  pledges  itself  to  the  passage 

6  of  the  most  energetic  measures,  to  secure  our  ultimate  success. 


MIENDMENT  OFFERED  BY  MR.  GILMER. 


1  Resolved  further,  that  notwithstanding  all  this,  we  believe 

2  that  the   Confederate  States  would  consent  and  agree  to  the 

3  following : 

1  1st.    That  there  be  a  separation  between  the  United  States  of 

2  America  and  the  Confederate  States  of  America — each  one  per- 
'S  fectly  free  and  independent  of  the  other ;  the  rights  of  naviga- 

4  tion,  trade,  transit,  &c.  properly  and  fairly  agreed  on  and  settled. 

1  2d.   That  an  American  Diet  be  created,  to  which  each  party 

2  shall  be  at  liberty  to  send  Delegates,  each  being  its  own  judge 

3  as  to  the  number  and  manner  of  electing  them,  and  each  party 

4  paying  all  its  own  expenses. 

1  3d.   The  privileges  of  this  Diet  to  be  clearly  and  definitely 

2  defined  and  settled. 

1  4th.   In  this  Diet  there  shall  be  but  two  votes — one  by  the 

2  Delegates  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  one  by  the 

3  Delegates  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America ;  and  the  acts 

4  of  this  body  to  be  binding  on  the  parties  only  when  ratified  by 

5  the  House,  Senate  and  President  of  each. 

1  5th.   In  settling  the  boundary,  let  the  States  of  Kentucky  and 

2  Missouri  determine  for  themselves,  by  a  free  and  fair  vote  of 

3  their  people,  bona  fide  resident  in  their  respective  States  at  the 

4  commencement  of  hostilities. 


penmalipe* 

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